Wolfgang Durheimer prepared for his new role as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show when he accepted the keys to one of the company's most revered cars - W.O. Bentley's 1930 8-litre saloon which was his official company car.

The 8-litre, now owned by Bentley Motors and still driven to this day, represented the pinnacle of W.O. Bentley's engineering career. Capable of reaching more than 100 mph, the 8-litre demonstrated W.O. Bentley's ambition and ability to build a grand luxury car capable of surpassing every other leading manufacturer of the day. This ability to combine stirring performance with hand-crafted luxury has been at the heart of the Bentley experience ever since.

Mr. Durheimer, who received the keys as well as a hand-crafted model of the 8-litre from Bentley's outgoing Chairman and CEO Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen and who will join the famous Crewe manufacturer on 1st February 2011, commented: "I have already had the pleasure of visiting Crewe and saw just why the company retains such a pride in its origins. The commitment to quality and exceptional levels of bespoke craftsmanship, beautifully exemplified by the new Mulsanne, is remarkable and a tribute to the leadership of Dr. Paefgen."